Chapter Twelve
I lied.
All of the times I would escape into my mind and imagine Forsythia ripping off Laeryne’s head… are nothing compared to this.
Most men would look at the scene before them and think their mate had gone mad with the pure carnage she wrought.
Instead, I feel nothing but love.
I know, deep in my soul, she did this for me. She has given me my freedom. Not from capture but from the nightmares that have tormented me for the last century.
I’m not saying that my nights will never be restless again, but now when I wake, I will remember that there is no way for this monster to ever be able to lay a hand on me again.
That knowledge allows me to breathe easily, and I greedily take the comfort it offers.
Now, I need to figure out how to calm my mate because she is still in full rage mode, and I am beginning to worry she may be hurting her own hand as there is not much of a corpse left in it.
Once shifted, I flap my wings and quickly approach Forsythia. I reach out and gently run my hand down her arm. My touch and gentle manner bring her to slow her own movements, and then finally, her screaming stops.
“It is ok, Animus Meus . You can let go now.“ My words get through to her, and she finally lets go.
The meaty lump hits the ground below with a moist thud, and Forsythia turns into my arms. She is covered in blood and debris, but I don’t care. I see the tears flowing heavily from her eyes as her body shakes with the remnants of her rage, and pull her in close to me before maneuvering us back down to Blake and Midori.
Her voice is so tiny I almost don’t hear her. “She will never touch you again.”
I smile at her promise and spare one last glance at the mangled mess of organs and mush. It will take the elves a bit to even figure out who that is.
For the first time in weeks, I breathe a sigh of relief.
The weight on my chest lifts, and I squeeze my mate tightly. “No, she will not. Thank you.”
Midori turns and looks at Forsythia. Her eyes go impossibly wide, and her mouth drops open. “That is just… well, that is disgusting. Not that she did not deserve it. I, too, suffered at the hands of Laeryne. We will have to find a way to clean you up, though.” She forces her gaze from Sythia to Blake. “I should be able to do another bubble. For a short distance, anyways. Enough to get us out of sight so we can get her cleaned up.”
She is already swirling her hands, but Blake still nods in agreement right as she claps.
Bubble in place, she and Blake work to wedge the heavy door open enough for us to slip through. With Forsythia in my arms, getting through the door is a tad more difficult, but I refuse to put her down. Once outside, the door snaps closed again, and we move quickly, heading in the direction of a large tent.
We slip inside undetected and make our way to a space in the back with crates stacked at various heights. As soon as we slip out of sight– not that there are many in this tent anyway– Midori drops the bubble and sinks onto the ground against one of the stacks. Panting and exhausted. I set Forsythia down on her feet, and she instantly moves to the elf’s side.
“Were you injured? Are you ok?” She sounds sincere in her worry, and I can’t help but smile. For a woman so callously tossed aside by her own people, she has such a large and loving heart.
Midori nods, blowing out a big breath as she answers. “Yes, I am alright. I just need a small rest. I will not be able to shield us anymore today, so we really need to get you cleaned up.”
“Aha!” Blake’s sudden exclamation pulls all of our attention. He holds up a large elven robe. It’s much thicker than the ones they are presently wearing, and the material is a darker color., He tosses it at me before pulling more from a crate.
With the suns setting, the air is getting cooler, so the thicker robes will be a comfort. I do, however, worry about traveling in them tomorrow during the harsh heat of the suns.
We hear voices coming from the other side of the tent, but they do not seem to be coming closer. Nor do they seem to be guards, since their conversation seems to center around a bartering agreement.
Blake and Midori swap their robes quickly before working together to get Forsythia cleaned up. My change takes a little longer. There is a reason why my magicks have been so muted. Why I have been so complacent.
My garments are laden with cobalt threads, the only element the elves were able to discern is capable of muting my abilities and spells, making me not want to remove the fabrics. I manage to remove the top with shaking fingers, but I have no replacement for the pants. The ribbons will require help, but that can wait until we are in a safer location for resting.
I only hope I will not require my magicks before then, or we are surely fucked.